Lock mounting for articles with pins



June 12, 1956 K. PLISZCZAK ET AL 2,

LOCK MOUNTING FOR ARTICLES WITH PINS Filed March 16, 1953 Fifi l INVENTORS KARL B. PLISZCZAK BRUNO T. PLIZAK ATTORNEY United States Patent LOCK MOUNTING FOR ARTICLES WITH PINS Karl B. Pliszczak and Bruno T. Plizak, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application March 16, 1953, Serial No. 342,620

2 Claims. (Cl. 24-104) This invention relates to mountings for articles with pins, and more particularly to an improved lock suitable for holding a button or the like on a garment.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for pins and the like which is simple in construction, but sturdy and reliable in operation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple form of button mounting which may be quickly and easily applied to a garment, which will remain in firm engagement after mounting, and which can be readily removed if desired.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved mounting for buttons for garments and the like in which the mounting and locking structure may be easily applied to buttons of synthetic plastic material and 9 the like.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved locking mechanism for pins, the constituent parts of which are of simple construction so that the same may be inexpensively fabricated and assembled.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is an enlarged vertical central sectional view through a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated, a casing 10 is provided having a side Wall 11 with an interior frusto conical face 12 converging towards an end wall 13. The end wall 13 has a central opening 14 therethrough and on the exterior thereof may be provided with gripping ridges or flanges 15. At the open end of the casing 10, opposite the end wall 13, a flaring rim 16 may be provided for securing engagement in an article, such as a button B, on which the casing 10 is mounted. The button B may be made of any desired material, such as synthetic plastic, of the desired color and shape.

Within the interior of the casing 10, a plurality of spherical metallic balls 17, preferably three in number are provided, these being adapted to be engaged by a leaf spring opening 21 for purposes to be explained.

A pin 22 is provided having a pointed cylindrical shank 23 and an enlarged and preferably disc like head 24. The pin 22 is adapted to be forced through textile fabric 25 or like material of a garment or other object with the head 24 in engagement with one side face of the fabric 25.

The shank 23 of the pin 22. is then inserted through the opening 14 in the end wall 13, in separating relation to the balls 17, and through the central opening 19 in the spring 18.

The spring 18 tends to urge the balls 17 towards the end wall 13 and in gripping engagement with the shank 23 and the interior fnisto conical face 12. Any retracting force applied on the pin 22 will merely serve to tighten the gripping engagement by which the pin 22 is held. The gripping ridges or flanges 15 serve to prevent undesired turning of the button B with respect to the fabric 25.

If it is desired to remove the button B from the fabric 25, a stiff wire, such as needle (not shown), may be inserted through the side Wall opening 21 to engage the spring 18 on the portion thereof facing the balls 17 and move it slightly towards the disc 20. The removal of the spring force on the balls 17 releases the grip thereof on the shank 23 so that the pin 22 may be withdrawn.

The lock thus provided has been found to be positive yet readily releasable when desired and the ease of application results in a great saving of time in applying buttons to garments.

We claim:

1. Mounting mechanism for an article comprising a casing having a side wall exteriorly disposed with respect to said article and having an end portion mounted in fixed relation in said article, said casing having a fixed outer end closure wall oppositely disposed with respect to said end portion and providing therewith an interior chamber, said end closure wall having a central opening, the interior of said side wall being of fiusto-conical shape converging toward said end wall, a plurality of spherical balls in said chamber, a closure member at the end portion of said casing, said casing at its inner end being rigidly closed by said closure member and the article, a resilient member interposed between said closure member and said balls and engaging said closure member and said balls, said resilient member having a central opening aligned with said other central opening, and a pin having an enlarged head movable into clamping position with respectto the outer face of said end closure wall, said pin having a cylindrical shank extending through said central openings and between said balls and held by the engagement of said balls with said frusto-conical side wall and therewith against retraction, the side wall of said casing having an opening therethrough aligned with the place of engagement of said resilient member and said balls for releasing access to said resilient member.

2. A lock mounting for an article comprising a pin having an enlarged head and a cylindrical shank, a casing extending from the article having a side wall exteriorly disposed with respect to the article, said casing having an integral exterior end closure wall with outwardly extending gripping projections towards which said head is advanced for clamping, said end wall having a central opening therethrough for the reception of the pin shank, the interior of said side wall being frusto-conical and converging towards said end wall, a plurality of spherical balls inwardly of said end wall for the reception of the shank therebetween, a spring in direct engagement with said balls and having a central opening for the passage of the shank, said side wall having an opening therethrough aligned with the place of engagement of said spring and said balls for releasing access to said spring, and a closure member at the end of said casing opposite said end wall with which said spring engages, said casing at its inner end being rigidly closed by said closure member and said article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,009 Fischer Aug. 17, 1909 

